Manchester United transfer news: Emiliano Martinez was "excited" about playing for Ruben Amorim before Senne Lammens deal

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was "excited" about the prospect of playing for Manchester United, Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni has claimed.

The Red Devils ended the summer transfer window having largely focused on their forward line, bringing in Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.

Ruben Amorim also added shot-stopper Senne Lammens to his squad despite being strongly linked with a move for Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez.

The Argentine was not part of the Villa squad that lost 3-0 against Crystal Palace on August 31, but a switch to Old Trafford failed to materialise.

Martinez is now with his national team squad, and Argentina boss Scaloni insisted the 33-year-old was looking forward to playing for United, saying: "Emi is fine. In the end, his transfer didn't happen, but yesterday (Tuesday) was his birthday and I saw him happy.

"Of course, he must have been excited about the idea of playing for Manchester United, as people have said, but he's a positive kid. He's already focused on us, and when he returns to his club, he'll be focused on them. I saw him well."

A report claimed that the failure of Martinez's proposed move was heavily influenced by Jadon Sancho's refusal to agree a permanent transfer to Villa Park.

Concerns with Senne Lammens at Manchester United

Senne Lammens is expected to replace both Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir between the posts, both of whom have struggled to deal with the pressure of being number one at United.

Onana in particular has faced severe criticism for a series of erratic displays, with his latest blunder coming against Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup on August 27.

Lammens is only 23 years old and there are concerns that he could find it difficult to deal with being in the spotlight at Old Trafford.

The Belgian has played just one full season of top-flight football in Belgium, and the transition to the Premier League could be challenging.

Did Manchester United address Ruben Amorim's transfer needs?

There is no doubt that United needed to address their weakness between the posts, but it remains to be seen if Amorim can rely on Lammens.

The club's additions in the forward line were also necessary given the Red Devils scored just 44 goals in the league in 2024-25.

However, United have looked vulnerable in the middle of the pitch, with Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte all struggling to get the better of opposition midfielders.

While the squad's options in attack have significantly improved, it is hard to say that the club have addressed all of their weaknesses.

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